New Accessibility Courses

Universal Design is a term used to describe the idea of creating buildings, products, and spaces accessible to older adults, people with disabilities, and people without disabilities. The focus is on creating an all-inclusive environment usable by everyone, regardless of age or physical ability.

Today’s designers are challenged by the many rules and regulations in their commercial practice including the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The application of Universal Design in architecture and construction allows homeowners to continue to live in homes that they love as their physical needs change.

This interactive online course addresses why learning universal design considerations – from the initial design concepts through the life-cycle of the home – is necessary. This course will also assist designers and those in the construction industry in providing an educated and sensitive approach when creating design solutions to meet the everyday “lifestyle” challenges of the disabled.

A single step can prevent someone who uses a wheelchair for mobility from being able to access a building. Accessible routes can include ramps, elevators, and platform lifts, in addition to pedestrian paths. This interactive online course will describe components of an accessible route. It will help architects, engineers, contractors, and building inspectors ensure that people with disabilities have access to their buildings and sites. This course will use real-world examples to demonstrate not only the what of the laws, but also the why. Photographs and diagrams can demonstrate both good and bad examples and show how much of a difference properly designed and constructed spaces make in the lives of people with disabilities.